Nene announcement triggered ‘significant’ losses in markets, JSE CEO says

13 December 2015 - 17:51 By TMG Digital

South African capital markets posted significant losses and saw unprecedented activity‚ with investors‚ ranging from individual retirees to huge pension funds‚ seeing the value of their holdings plummet‚ following the announcement by President Jacob Zuma to replace the Minister of Finance‚ JSE CEO Nicky Newton-King says. In a statement on Sunday‚ she said that businesses already under pressure now faced increases coming from rising borrowing costs and a weaker Rand which devalued from R14.53 to R15.89 (9.36%) against the dollar and from R15.94 to R17.45 (9.47%) against the euro in the two subsequent days after Nhlanhla Nene’s removal from the finance minister portfolio and replacement by David van Rooyen. Both Thursday and Friday had seen exceptional trading volumes across most platforms of the JSE‚ Newton-King said.The average daily value traded in the equity market on those two days‚ at R47.8bn‚ was more than double the R19.9bn year to date average for 2015‚ while the average daily number of trades on the JSE on those two days of 589‚721 (both of which were record trading days) was more than double the year to date average of 246‚ 338 trades.In other major moves: • The FTSE/JSE Financial15 Index (FINI) dropped 13.36% from 15‚600 to 13‚515 • The FTSE/JSE Banks Index lost 18.54% dropping from 6‚556 to 5‚340 • The FTSE/JSE All Share Index (ALSI) dropped 1‚456 points in those two days‚ closing at 48‚068 on Friday‚ down 2.94% • The FTSE/JSE Top 40 Index shed 987 points over the same period‚ closing at 43‚558 on Friday • The entire market cap fell R169.6bn from R11.35 trillion to R11.18 trillion (1.49%) • Activity in Equity Derivatives also peaked - value traded on 10 December (R51.1bn) was double that of the daily average of the year and on 11 December (R129.7bn) was five times the daily average of 2015 • In the bond market‚ the benchmark R186 started the week at a yield of 8.66% and closed on 10.40%. By contrast‚ on 29 January 2015 the yield was 7.055%.“While the JSE systems were able to handle this unprecedented activity‚ we should not just be concerned about the immediacy of market reaction but should be mindful of the longer term impact on the financial stability of our economy‚” said Newton-King.She added: “Market losses put strain on credit extension and interest rates‚ and raise borrowing costs for companies and individuals. As cost of capital becomes more expensive‚ this in turn constrains the growth stimulus which we desperately need. The outlook for much needed job creation opportunities diminishes. And higher lending rates make everyday life more expensive for ordinary South Africans. Continued currency depreciation will have a profound impact on fuel prices and on inflation overall‚ which will hurt companies‚ small businesses‚ and individuals.“We should remember that behind the daily statistics are the life savings of ordinary South Africans which are likely to be negatively impacted. This will put pressure on the ability of people to fund their health and housing requirements‚ their household budgets‚ their children’s education and their entrepreneurial aspirations.“As individuals and as corporates we need to be aware of how we are impacted by the seriousness of this moment and take accountability for how we respond.”..

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